Horse-blanket.



PATENTED JUNE-2, 1908.

P. L. NAGEL.

HORSE BLANKET.'

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6. 1908.

WWW

ZZI/GW? at M THE mamas rzrsns'kc uusnmcrnu, n. c,

FRANK L. NAGEL, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

HORSE-BLANKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed March 6, 1908. Serial No. 419,474.

To all whomv'lt may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. NAGEL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful lm rovements in Horse Blankets, of which l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make .and use the same.

The objects of the invention are to provide means for drawing the front projecting flaps of a double breasted horse blanket tightly together about the lower portion of the throat and breast of a horse, so as to close all openings that would permit of a draft, or of the entrance of cold air; and also to insure an equal degree of adjustment of both inner and outer flaps, which, if not adjusted perfectly alike, would result in the sagging of one portion and consequent incomplete closing of the neck opening and straining and tearing of the blanket.

An important feature of the invention is to provide a means for fastening the inner flap, which is accessible at the inner edge of that flap, and within the outer flap, and adapted to be secured before the closing of the outer flap. This inner fastening means is employed in connection with an exterior means for adjustment of the fastening device, so that while the inner flap is fastened inside of the outer-flap, the adjustment to adapt it to the size of the neck of the horse is obtained on theoutside of the blanket. This construction reduces the act of attaching the blanket to the animal to -a very simple one, since after the exterior adjustment has once been made it is only necessary to secure the inner fastener, which can be accomplished by any inexperienced person, even in the dark.

The exterior flap is also fastened at the outer margin of that flap, and the adjusting means therefor is also distinct therefrom, so that no variation is necessary in the adjustments when once made.

The importance of this device is realized from the fact that the lower part of the throat and the upper part of the chest of an animal are vital portions, which if afiected by a draft, would suffer the greatest injury, and any neglect, as from the careless fastening of the blanket, is more likely to result in foundering a hot and tired horse than any other form of carelessness.

The reason that blankets heretofore have not always been properly adjusted has been ordinarily that the fastening device has not been located in the proper position, or that it has been impossible to use it without constant adjustment every time the blanket has been fastened, and hence it will not always be accurately adjusted.

This blanket a plies to all purposes, such as a storm, or stab e, or hospital blanket or a blanket for general purposes.

It is obvious that double flaps correspond ing in use to the breast flaps can be employed to cover other portions of animal, such as the abdomen, and may be fastened in the same manner and would be applicable to sick horses under the care of the veterinary surgeon.

The invention further comprises the combination and arrangement of the various parts and-construction of details, as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a horse provided with the improved blanket fastener; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the extended blanket showing breast flaps and fastening and adjusting devices; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the throat opening and flaps of the blanket, showing the flaps somewhat separated; Fig. 4 is a view showing the adjusting means for the inner flap and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the adjusting means for the outer flap.

In these drawings, 1 is the blanket, 2 and 3 are the inner and outer flaps, respectively. The inner flap 2 is first smoothly folded about the chest of the animal, and fastened in its place before the outer flap 3 is secured smoothly in place.

4 is a metallic ring secured to the extremity of the inner flap at the upper corner thereof, and upon the outer surface, 5 is a spring snap secured to the inner end of a strap 6, which extends inside of the blanket through a suitable opening 7 therefor. The outer end of the strap 6 is adjustably secured by passing it through a friction buckle 8, whereby a more minute and accurate adjust ment thereof can be obtained than by the use of a tongued buckle, and no holes are made in the strap to weaken it. A circular leather plate 9 is riveted upon the blanket and sewed thereto about its edges, and the open ing 7 passes therethrough. The buckle 8 is also secured thereto, thus forming a secure attachment and guide for the strap.

It is readily understood that the ring on the end of the inner flap can be attached to the spring snap 5 on the strap 6, in the darkest night, and after the adjustment has once been accurately made to suit the neck and breast of the animal, no further attention need be paid to the adjustment, so that there will be no possibility of disarranging the blanket or avoiding a perfect fit, no matter how unskilled the hands of the driver or hostler may be.

Upon the outer and upper edge of the outer flap 3 is secured the ring 10, and upon the other side of the blanket is secured a similar friction buckle 11, mounted upon a similar circular plate 12, and adjustable in this buckle is a strap 13 upon the outer end of which is shown a spring snap 14, which secures the ring 10, when the outer flap has been smoothly folded over the inner flap 2. The strap 13 is adjusted similarly to strap 6 to bring the flap smoothly over the breast of the horse, and after it is once adjusted to suit I the size of the individual horse, it need never be adjusted again but will always insure a perfect fit, and correspond exactly with the adjustment of the strap of the inner flap, so that there will be no sagging or looseness of the neck opening. This could not be easily done if the adjustment had to be made every time the blanket was put on, since the ordinary hostler, if in a hurry or if his fingers are cold, or the night dark, will not be able to adjust both flaps exactly alike. Hence the horse is likely to be unprotected, but with this arrangement it is impossible for the most ignorant or careless man to strain the flaps or fail to make a perfect protection for the chest, and a perfectly smooth and equal adjustment 'of the two flaps.

Having described the invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a horse blanket, of outer and inner flaps, one adapted to be folded over the other to cover the inclosed surface of the animal closely, a fastening device for the inner extremity of the inner flap, one portion of which is secured to the upper and outer edge of the inner flap, and the other portion of which is located on the inner side of the blanket, and means located externally of the blanket for adjusting the inner portion of the fastening device aforesaid.

2. The combination, with outer and inner flaps of a double breasted blanket, of adjusting and independent fastening devices for the said flaps, comprising straps adjustable upon the outer surface of the blanket, the strap for the inner flap passing through the blanket, a fastening device for the inner flap adapted to secure the end of the flap to the inner end of said adjustable strap, and a fastening device for said outer flap adapted to secure the outer edge thereof to the adjustable strap for the outer flap.

3. In a double breasted blanket, the combination with inner and outer flaps, of a friction buckle for minute adjustment on each side of the blanket, a strap for each buckle adjustable therein, the strap for the inner flap passing through the blanket, and an independent fastening devioe for each flap eX- tremity, one portion of each fastening device being upon one of said straps and the other portion being upon the edge of each flap,

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February 1908.

FRANK L. NAGEL.

Witnesses:

G120. S. COLE, WM. M. MONROE. 

